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International military decoration authorized by the United States military

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An international decoration is a military award which is not bestowed by a particular country, but rather by an international organization such as the United Nations or NATO. Such awards are normally issued as service medals, for participation in various international military operations, and not for specific acts of heroism or bravery. The first medal from an international organization accepted for wear by the United States Military was the United Nations Korea Medal in 1951. Subsequent acceptance of other United Nations Medals did not come until 1964 with United States Executive order 11139. Acceptance of the medals of other international multilateral organizations finally came with United States Executive order 11446 in 1969. Acceptance of these international decorations must be approved by not only the Secretary of Defense, but also the Secretary of State.

The following is a list of the most commonly recognized international military decorations that has been or is currently awarded to members of the United States military. Such awards are always worn after all United States decorations, but before all Foreign decorations.

United Nations[]

Main article: United Nations Medal

The Assistant Secretary of Defense approved a change to the policy of the wear of United Nations Medals. Effective 13 October 1995, any US military personnel who is awarded a United Nations Medal may wear the ribbon of the first UN medal for which they qualify. Subsequent awards of the United Nations Medal for service in a different mission is noted by adding a bronze service star to the current ribbon. No more than one UN medal or ribbon may be worn at a time. Operations in which United States military personnel were awarded the United Nations Medal and authorized by the Department of Defense to accept and wear the medal are as follows:[1][2]

United Nations Medal ribbon United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in Palestinian territories/United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon
UN UNMOGIP Medal ribbon United Nations Observer Group in India and Pakistan
United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon United Nations Korea Medal
UNSF UNTEA Medal bar United Nations Temporary Executive Authority/UN Security Force in West New Guinea
ONZ Medal w Służbie Pokoju UNIKOM BAR United Nations Iraq–Kuwait Observation Mission
UN Medal MINURSO ribbon bar United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
UN UNAMIC Medal ribbon United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia
UN UNPROFOR Medal ribbon United Nations Protection Force in Yugoslavia
UN UNTAC Medal ribbon United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
UNOSOM United Nations Operation in Somalia II
ONUMOZ Medal bar United Nations Operation in Mozambique
UNOMIG Medal bar United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
UNMIH United Nations Mission in Haiti/United Nations Support Mission in Haiti
UN UNPREDEP Medal ribbon United Nations Preventive Deployment Force
UNTAES United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium
UN MINUGUA Medal ribbon United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala
UNSSM United Nations Special Service Medal/United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq
Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo Medal ribbon United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
UNAMET Medal bar United Nations Mission in East Timor/United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor/United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor
UN MONUC Medal ribbon United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo/United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea Medal ribbon United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
UNMIL ribbon USA sized United Nations Mission in Liberia
MINUSTAH Ribbon bar United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti
UNAMID United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur
UN Medal MINURCAT ribbon bar United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad
UN MONUC Medal ribbon United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
MINUSMA Medal ribbon United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic
UN MINUSCA ribbon United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali

North Atlantic Treaty Organization[]

Main article: NATO Medal

United States military personnel may accept and wear NATO medals authorized by the Secretary General of NATO and offered to the US Representative to NATO to recognize US service members who meet the eligibility criteria specified by NATO, so long as acceptance is approved by both the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State. NATO Medals may be awarded with a clasp that designates the operation for which the medal is awarded. United States military personnel may accept, but not wear the clasp.[3] To date the following medals are the only NATO Medals authorized for acceptance and wear by US military personnel:[4][5]

NATO Meritorious Service Medal bar NATO Meritorious Service Medal
NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar Yugoslavia service medal
NATO medal for Kosovo ribbon Kosovo service
NATO Medal Eagle Assist ribbon bar NATO Article 5 medal for Operation Eagle Assist
NATO Medal ribbon (Article 5) NATO Article 5 medal for Operation Active Endeavour
NATO Medal ribbon (Non-Article 5) Non-article 5 medal for ISAF
NATO Medal non-article-5 Balkans ribbon bar NATO Non-Article 5 medal for the Balkans
NATO Medal ribbon (Non-Article 5) Non-Article 5 medal for NATO Training Mission – Iraq
NATO Medal ribbon (Non-Article 5) Non-Article 5 medal for Africa Operations Allied Provider, Allied Protector, and Ocean Shield
NATO Medal ribbon (Non-Article 5) NATO Non-Article 5 medal for Operation Unified Protector
NATO Medal ribbon (Non-Article 5) NATO Non-Article 5 medal for Operation Resolute Support

Multinational Force and Observers[]

MFO Ribbon bar Multinational Force and Observers Medal

Inter-American Defense Board[]

Inter-american defense board medal ribbon Inter-American Defense Board Medal[6]

SICOFAA[]

The System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces awards the following decorations:

SICOFAA Legion of Merit Gentleman SICOFAA Legion of Merit Gentleman
SICOFAA Legion of Merit SICOFAA Legion of Merit Officer
SICOFAA Legion of Merit Grand Cross SICOFAA Legion of Merit Grand Cross

CSDP[]

Main article: Common Security and Defence Policy Service Medal

Common Security and Defence Policy

ESDP Medal ALTHEA ribbon bar CSDP ALTHEA Operations medal ribbon bar
CSDP support ribbon ALTHEA CSDP ALTHEA Staff medal ribbon bar
CSDP Medal EUTM MALI ribbon bar E-M-S CSDP EUTM MALI Medal for Extraordinary Meritorious Service ribbon bar

Notes[]

  1. ↑ "United Nations Medals". The Institute of Heraldry. http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/Heraldry.aspx?HeraldryId=15319&CategoryId=9399&grp=12&menu=Decorations%20and%20Medals&ps=24&p=0. 
  2. ↑ "DoD Approved U.N. Mission And Actions for Acceptance and Wear of the U.N. Medal". Office of the Under Secretary of For Personnel and Readiness. September 2015. http://www.people.mil/Portals/56/Documents/oepm/DoD%20Approved%20UN%20Medals%20-%20Sep%202015.pdf. 
  3. ↑ AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 36-2803 THE AIR FORCE MILITARY AWARDS AND DECORATIONS PROGRAM. United States Air Force. 18 December 2013. p. 192. http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2803/afi36-2803_.pdf. Retrieved 23 October 2014. 
  4. ↑ "NATO Meritorious Service Medal". Air Force Personnel Center. 2003-09-09. http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/library/awards/index.asp. 
  5. ↑ Office of the Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness. "DoD Approved NATO Medals for Acceptance and Wear". Department of Defense. https://prhome.defense.gov/Portals/52/Documents/RFM/MPP/OEPM/docs/DoD%20Approved%20NATO%20Medals%20-%20Oct%202015.pdf. 
  6. ↑ "Inter-American Defense Board Medal". IADB Regulations. 2003-09-11. http://www.oas.org/36ag/espanol/doc_referencia/Reglamento_JID.pdf. 

See also[]

Awards and decorations of the United States military

 
International and foreign decorations authorized by the United States Armed Forces
 
United Nations
NATO
Other international
organizations
 
Argentina — Bulgaria
Canada
Colombia — Estonia
  • Colombian Air Force Cross Aeronautical Merit Medal (Colombia)
  • Bol Aro Mer med ribb Colombian Air Force Cross (Colombia)
  • Order of Prince Branimir Order of Prince Branimir (Croatia)
  • Order of the White Lion Order of the White Lion
  • Order of the Elephant Ribbon bar Order of the Elephant
  • Gold Medal for Distinguished Service (El Salvador) ribbon bar Gold Medal for Distinguished Service Medal (El Salvador)
  • Military Order of the Cross of the Eagle ribbon Military Order of the Cross of the Eagle
    • France
    Germany — Japan
    Korea —
    United Arab Emirates
    United Kingdom
    South Vietnam


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